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A telephone-delivered psychosocial intervention improves dementia caregiver adjustment following nursing home placement

Authors

Davis, Jennifer Duncan, Tremont, Geoffrey, Bishop, Duane S., Fortinsky, Richard H.

Journal

International Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume: 26, No.: 4, Pages.: 380-387

Year of Publication

2011

Abstract

Objective: Study the preliminary efficacy of a telephone intervention, Family Intervention: Telephone Tracking-Nursing Home (FITT-NH) for improving dementia caregivers’ adjustment following nursing home placement.; Methods: Caregivers were enrolled on average 6 weeks following the care-recipients’ placement in a nursing home. Baseline assessment included self-report measures of caregiver emotional functioning, staff-caregiver interactions, placement satisfaction, health-related quality of life, and social support. Caregivers were randomly assigned to FITT-NH (n = 24) or a non-contact control condition (n = 22). Caregivers were urn randomized to balance groups on caregiver gender, relationship (spouse versus other), and facility type (dementia special care versus general). The intervention was entirely telephone-delivered in 10 contacts over 3 months. Caregivers randomized to non-contact control were not prevented from using other community-based mental health or support resources, therefore reflecting standard care. Intervention strategies were based on assessment of caregiver emotional adjustment, family functioning, staff-caregiver interactions, health, and social support. Treatment strategies are based on models of stress and coping process and family functioning.; Results: Groups did not differ in caregiver age, education, gender, relationship to the care recipient, length of caregiving, length of dementia diagnosis, or time since placement. Using mixed model analysis of variance, caregivers receiving FITT-NH showed a significant reduction in feelings of guilt related to placement, F(1,43) = 5.00, p < 0.05, and reported more positive perceptions of interactions with staff, F(1,43) = 4.59, p < 0.05, compared to standard care.; Conclusion: Findings provide preliminary evidence for FITT-NH as a potentially efficacious, brief, targeted psychosocial intervention for improving caregiver emotional adjustment following nursing home placement.; Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bibtex Citation

@article{Davis_2010, doi = {10.1002/gps.2537}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gps.2537}, year = 2010, month = {sep}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {380--387}, author = {Jennifer Duncan Davis and Geoffrey Tremont and Duane S. Bishop and Richard H. Fortinsky}, title = {A telephone-delivered psychosocial intervention improves dementia caregiver adjustment following nursing home placement}, journal = {Int. J. Geriat. Psychiatry} }

Keywords

adaptation psychological, age factors, analysis of variance, caregivers, carer, counseling, dementia, depression, family, guilt, humans, intervention, methods, nursing, nursing homes, prevention & control, psychology, sex factors, social support, telephone

Countries of Study

USA

Types of Dementia

Dementia (general / unspecified)

Types of Study

Randomised Controlled Trial

Type of Outcomes

Carers’ Mental Health, Quality of Life of Carer

Type of Interventions

Intervention for Carers, Technology (telephone, telecare, telehealth, robots, GPS)

Carer Focussed Interventions

Training programmes / workshops including behavioural training

Technology

Technology – social media, online support, communication